Leveling-machine.



E. A. WEBSTER.

LEVELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 10, 1909. RENEWED DBO. e, 1913.

Patented Feb. 3, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRM M CO..W-\SHIHGTON. n, c.

E. A. WEBSTER.

LEVELING MACHINE. IAPPLIOATION' FILED JUNE 10, 1909. RENEWED DBO. e, 1913.

Patented Feb. 3, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

fiaeiziori ll/iiizessesx g a Q COLUMBJA PLANOGRAPH $0.. WASHINGTON, I)v c-.

E. A. WEBSTER.

LEVELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 10, 1909. RENEWED DEC. s, 1913. 1,086,100.

Patented Feb. 3, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN A. WEBSTER, OF GROVELAND, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES K. FOX, OF HAVERHILL, MASSACHUSETTS; IDA L. FOX, LAMONT H. CHICK, AND ROBERT D. TRASK, EXECUTORS OF SAID CHARLES K. FOX, DECEASED.

LEVELING-MACHINE.

Application filed June 10, 1909, Serial No. 501,238.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWIN A. VVEBSTER, of Groveland, county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improve ment in Leveling-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in leveling machines of the type shown in the U. S. patent to W'ebster No. 727,516, dated May 5th, 1903.

In leveling shoes with a leveling roll, such as is shown in said patent, it is customary to move the jack back and forth beneath the roll, tipping the shoe by means of the supporting mechanism of the jack, first to one side and then the other, so that there is a strong downward pressure on the edges of the shoe, which tends to cant the last on the heel-post and split it. Furthermore, when a last becomes weakened by splitting, while it might still be used for other purposes, it cannot be practically used in a leveling machine unless suitably supported. While a leveling roll, such as is shown in said patent, is especially desirable for use in leveling turned shoes, there are several particularly serious objections to such use, which may be explained as follows:-In the operation of these machines the leveling roll is rotated so that its engaging surface moves toward the toe of the shoe while in engagement with the sole thereof. The friction between the roll and sole causes a strong tendency to draw the sole forward on the last, with the result that the back portion of the counter is sometimes drawn onto the bottom of the last, or the heel of the sole is lifted from the bottom of the last, so that this portion of the shoe must be drawn back into position by hand. It is, moreover, not practical to level the heel-seat of a shoe in the machine of said patent, for the reason that the operator is liable to move thejack so far toward the rear that the ribs of the roll catch on the back end of the sole and pull the shoe partly or wholly from the last, with probable damage thereto. It is, therefore, necessary to beat out the heel-seat by hand when the forepart is leveled in the machine. The drawing action of the roll also tends to stretch the sole so that it is longer than the last, and the toe of the sole projects beyond the toe end of the last. These results are highly objectionable, as it Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 3, 1914.

Renewed December 6, 1913'. Serial No. 805,185.

was before said operation was performed,

so that the sole will be firmly held against the bottom of the last throughout its entire surface and the heel-seat will be made square with the counter-portion of the shoe.

A further object of'the invention is to provide means whereby the entire surface of the heel-seat may be leveled by the roll, and all possibility of the roll being brought into engagementwith the end of the sole is prevented.

Another object of my invention is to counteract the tendency of the roll to stretch the sole, so that it will be made longer than the last.

I accomplish these objects by the means shown in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a jack made according to my invention, the position thereof on a leveling machine being indicated, and the parts being shown in unlocked position. Fig. 2is a similar view of the jack on a larger scale, showing the parts in locked position. Fig. 3 is a front end elevation of the jack. Fig. 4 is a section on the line l& of Fig. 2, showing a rear end elevation of the jack. Fig. 5 is a central section on the line 55 of Fig. 4. Figs. 6 and 7 are detail sectional and plan views showing the position of the last holding parts after the leveling operation has been finished. Fig. 8 is a sectional view at the line 88 of Fig. 5. Fig. 9 is a section at the line 99 of Fig. 7.

As shown in the drawing, a indicates the main frame of a leveling machine, having the leveling roll Z), and the U-shaped support 0 for the jack, mounted to swing transversely in the U-shaped frame 0, the latter being so mounted that it may be moved and tilted forwardly and rearwardly, and moved vertically, so that the last supported on the jack may be universally moved, as described in said patent.

According to my invention a pair of upright plates or ears (Z, CZ are rigidly mounted on, and preferably cast integral with the yoke 0, and a heel-post support e, made in the form of a flat plate and bearing the usual heel post 6 on the upper end thereof, is pivoted on a pin 7" between said plates (Z, d to swing in the customary manner. Said heel post support is provided with an arm 6 which extends obliquely upward from the rear side thereof, and a lever g is mounted to swing on a pivot h, heldv in the end. of said arm, said lever g being provided with a longitudinal slot 9, to receive said arm 6 said slot extending from a point adjacent the upper end of said lever to a point adjacent its lower end. The lower end of said lever below said slot, is provided with a cam face 9 which extends obliquely across the same, and the support 6 is provided with a cam face a which is disposed opposite said face 9 and extends convergently upward with relation thereto. The upper end of said lever g is provided with a hollow post 9 which extends longitudinally thereof, at a slight angle thereto, and a heel holder 1' is slidably mounted on said post, said holder having a chamber a", in which the post is located. A spring j is arranged in the bore of said post 9 and is interposed between the bottom of said bore and the bot 'tom of the chamber 2', the reciprocating movement of said holder on said post being limited by means of a stop screw 9*, mounted in post g and extending into a slot 2' formed in the holder, said screw being readily removable to permit the holder to be removed from the post. Said holder 1' is provided with a U-shaped or concave recess formed between two rearwardly extending projections i i and the inner surface of said recess has a lining is secured thereto, said lining preferably being of slightly corrugated rubber, or some other material which will not injure the upper of a shoe, when forced into engagement therewith, but which is, however, adapted to en gage the same frictionally with considerable force. The inner walls of said projections 2 i diverge at their ends sufficiently to permit the heel portion of a shoe to enter the same readily, while the inner portion of the recess is formed to fit closely about the heel end of the shoe, so that the lining is may be pressed firmly against the sides of the heel or counter-portion of the shoe. The inner sides of said walls extend nearly ver tical at their lower portion and their Upper portions are inclined inwardly to a slight extent, as shown in Figs. 6 and 9, to conform to the shape of the heel portion of the shoe adjacent the sole. The upper surface of the holder is slightly rounded, said surface corresponding somewhat to the longitudinal curve of the roll 5, a surface of considerable width being provided between the bottom of the recess and the outer sides of the holder. Holders of different sizes are provided, but each holder is adapted for a large number of sizes.

A set lever on is pivotally mounted on a shaft or, said shaft being held in an ear (Z of the upright (Z, and said lever being extended obliquely downwardly and inwardly to the central vertical plane of the jack, as shown in Fig. 3. The lower end of said lever is pivotally connected to one end of a horizontally extending link 0, and the opposite end. of said link is pivoted to one arm 7) of a bell crank lever, said arm extending upwardly at approximately right angles to link 0 and the other arm 7) of said lever extending approximately horizontally forward. The intermediate portion of said lever is mounted on and secured to a pivot g, which is rotatably mounted in an ear 6 on the rear edge of the heel post support 6, adjacent the lower end thereof. The shaft Q extends through the ear 0* and an arm 722 is secured to the projecting end thereof, in a position parallel to the arm 79, said arms 79, '7) being thereby held closely adjacent the opposite sides of the support 6, and acting as one arm. The front ends of said arms 72, p are each provided with longitudinal slots 72 and a roll r is provided, having proj ecting trunnions 7", which extend into said slots 72 said roll being thereby permitted to rotate therein and to move longitudinally of said arms 79, p lVhen thus held in the ends of arms 79, 72 said roll 1 is supported between the cam faces and 0 in position to engage both, or either of said faces, as hereafter described.

The particular locking mechanism for the lever on is of well-known form, and comprises an angular hand lever s, pivoted at s on lever m, and a link 2? pivoted to an intermediate portion of said lever and to a crank arm a, the latter being secured on a shaft a rotatably mounted in lever on adjacent its lower end, said shaft having a pawl n thereon adapted to engage teeth 1: mounted on upright (Z. A spring to on lever m acts normally to hold said pawl in engagement with said teeth 1). The lever mechanism above described does not differ materially either in construction or operation from the ordinary set lever.

A toe rest :0 is pivotally mounted at .r on the frame 0 and is adjustably connected by a swivel screw 3 to the rear edges of the uprights (Z, (Z, as in said prior patent. The upper end of the rest is provided with an abutment 2, which is mounted on a stem 2' to move vertically in the toe rest, a spring nearly flat surface is provided which extends rearwardly for some distance from the bottom of said recess.

The manner in which the above described device operates may be described as follows:

The toe rest is adjusted by means of the screw y in the proper relation to the heel post for the size of shoe which is to be leveled, and the last, bearing the shoe to be leveled, is then placed in position on the jack in the ordinary manner, the parts being in the position of Fig. 1. The lever m is then pushed rearwardly or downwardly until the last is jacked, as shown in Fig. 2, and as hereinafter described, said lever being automatically locked in the position to which it may be advanced by its pawl and ratchet mechanism. The manner in which the last is jacked may be described as follows :As the upper end of the lever m is pushed rearwardly the lower end thereof draws the link 0 toward the front. As the link 0 is connected to the arm ;0 of the bell crank lever,

. and the latter is pivoted on the lower end of the heel post support 6, by means of shaft (7, which is located at some distance below its pivot f, the preliminary movement of lever m causes the support 6 and lever g to be swung about pivot f as a center until the tip of the shoe is carried into engagement with the toe rest, so that resistance to further movement of the heel post toward the toe rest is encountered. Further movement of the lever m then causes the arms 72-, p to be swung upwardly, forcing the roll 1' upwardly between the converging cam faces 6 and g The cam face 6 is arranged to extend obliquely outward with relation to an arc having the axis of shaft 9 as a center, so that, as the arms p, p are swung upwardly, said roll 1" will be pushed away from said axis, said movement being permitted by the slotted bearings provided therefor in said arms 79, 79 The cam face 9 however, is arranged to extend obliquely inward with relation to said axis, andmoreover, as said roll '2' is pushed away from said center, it will be forced against said face 9 so that, as the arms p, p are swung upwardly, the lower end of lever 9 will be swung forwardly and the holder 2', carried thereby, will be swung rearwardly toward the heel post 6, until said holder is forced against the heel end of the shoe. Resistance to the upward movement of the arms p, 39 thus encountered, causes the forward pull on link 0 to be exerted on the shaft 9, so that the heel post 6 will be forced rearwardly to an extent suflicient to press the toe of the shoe or last firmly down on the toe rest. Simultaneously with this movement the holder 2' will be pressed stillmore forcibly againstthe heel of the shoe, so that, when the hand lever m is pushed down or rearward as far as possible, the last will be firmly acked on the heel post and toe rest and the holder 71 will at the same time be firmly pressed against the heel of the last, the parts being locked in this position. It may be observed that, while there is, under some conditions, a certain sequence of operation, both the j acking and clamping operations are performed practically simultaneously when the handlever m is pushed rearwardly, and the reaction caused by the resistance encountered in performing one operation will cause the other to be also performed. However, the sequence of operation, while largely dependent on conditions of size and adjustment, is, in fact, a matter of no consequence, the desired result being that both operations shall be performed with one lever, in practically one operation,

The heel-holder z' and abutment z are so arranged that, when the last is jacked, the toe of the shoe will bear firmly against the bottom of recess 2 in said abutment and said holder and abutment will both extend for a short distance, (approximately one half an inch in practice,) above the surface of the sole, as shown in Fig. 5.

The last having been jacked, the leveling operation is performed as follows: The jack is raised and moved rearward until the middle portion of the heel-seat is directly beneath the axis of the leveling roll I) and then the jack is raised, so that the roll bears against the projections 2' i of the holder, and the movement is continued until the holder has been pressed down, so that its upper face is on a level with the surface of the sole and the roll may bear against the same with suflicient force to perform the leveling operation thereon. The jack is then moved forwardly and rearwardly until the heel-seat is properly leveled and the sole pressed firmly against the heel of the last. In performing this operation the projections 2' 2' act as positive guides for the operator, causing the shoe to be held exactly vertically with relation to the roll, so that equal pressure will be brought to, bear on each side of the heel-seat and all possibility that the heelseat will be pressed out of position with relation to the counter is prevented. This is a matter of much importance, for, in beating-out the heel-seat by hand, it frequently happens that the heel-seat is not left in the desired shape, so that the heel, when attached, does not set properly with relation to the counter portion of the shoe. Inasmuch as the holder fits closely about the edge of the sole at the heel end, and a broad surface is provided in the rear of the shoe at the level of the sole, after the holder has been pressed down by the roll, as above described, it is impossible for the roll to be brought into engagement with the rear edge of the sole at any time, permitting the heel of the sole to be leveled to the extreme heel end without danger of injury to the shoe, for if the jack is pushed back so far that the roll bears on the surface of the holder in the rear of the shoe, the holder cannot be further depressed except with great difficulty, so that the holder thereby acts to prevent the jack from being raised so that the sole is at any time above the level of the under side of the roll.

\Vhile the holder t is being depressed, as above described, it is, at the same time, being held in firm frictional engagement with the back or counter portion of the shoe, so that, as the holder is depressed, it will cause the whole counter portion to be pushed or drawn down onto the last as far as possible. The result is that the sole is drawn down firmly onto the heel of the last and all wrinkles in the counter portion are pulled out, an operation, which has previously been performed by hand with not little difficulty, being performed as an incident to the leveling operation in a length of time which is inappreciable and in a much more effective manner than when performed by hand.

After the heel-seat has been leveled, the rest of the sole will be leveled in the usual manner, the holder 2' firmly supporting the last against sidewise tipping. Moreover, the holder 2' acts to clamp the counter portion of the upper firmly against the last about its entire end, so that the upper cannot be pulled onto the last bottom by the drawing action of the roll upon the sole. This action is also, to a certain extent, resisted by the abutment 2, which bears against the toe end of the sole and prevents the sole from being drawn out so that it is longer than the last.

As above stated, the abutment 2 extends above the level of the sole, so that when the toe portion of the sole is leveled the roll will be caused to engage said abutment and press the same down to the level of the sole, to lermit the leveling operation to be performed on this portion of the sole. In either position, however, it bears against the front edge of the sole, but, by having it normally extend above the level of the sole, an effective abutting face will be presented under all conditions. The abutment 2 also acts as a guard for the tip of the shoe, preventing possible injury thereto by the roll.

The tension of the springs, which lift the holder and abutment z is only suflicient to lift said parts when the last is removed, neither having suflicient strength to lift said parts when the last is clamped in position.

I do not desire to limit my invention to the particular form of heel holder 6 shown and described, as any form of engaging means, device or devices, which will perform the functions thereof, is within the spirit and scope of my invention, the most important of said functions being to draw down the counter portion of the shoe onto the last or jack, to clamp said counter portion against the last, so as to hold the same against the drawing action of the leveling devices, or leveling roll, to act as a guard to prevent the leveling roll from pulling the shoe from the last or causing injury thereto by engaging the end of the sole thereof, to act as a guide to the operator to prevent unequal pressure at opposite sides of the heel-seat, and to support the last effectively during the leveling operation. Moreover, while the particular form of means and devices shown and described, for accomplishing the operations of jacking the last and clamping the heel-portion of the shoe practically simultaneously, or in practically one operation, is more desirable than any form of which I am aware, yet I do not desire to limit my invention to the particular form of operating device or hand lever disclosed, or to the particular actuating means which are interposed between the operating lever and the jacking and clamping devices, as any means whereby the jacking and clamping operations may be performed as one operation, or by practically one motion of the operator, as by moving a handle, I consider to be within the spirit and scope of my invention.

The particular form of actuating means shown for the clamping and jacking devices, I consider to be especially desirable, as they are simple and durable and unlikely to get out of order, and, moreover, are adapted to adjust themselves automatically to widely varying conditions.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. in a soleleveling machine, leveling de vices comprising a last support, a sole-engaging device and means for relatively moving the same to level the sole of a shoe held on said support, a counterengaging device and means for pressing the same against the back of a last held on said support frictionally to engage the counter portion of a shoe held thereby, and means disposed to be engaged by said leveling devices, as they are moved into operative relation, to move said engaging device vertically with relation to the sole to draw the counter portion of the shoe onto the last in advance of the leveling operation, substantially as described.

9. In a sole-leveling machine, leveling devices comprising a last support, a sole-engaging device and means for relatively moving the same to level the sole of a shoe held on said support, an engaging-device having a face of relatively soft material disposed frictionally to engage the counter portion of a shoe held on a last carriedby said support and means disposed to be engaged by said leveling devices, as they are moved into operative relation, to move said engaging device vertically with relation to the sole to draw the counter portion of the shoe onto the last in advance of the leveling operation, substantially as described.

3. In combination with the leveling devices of a leveling machine, a last support, a clamping device for pressing the counter portion of a shoe against a last held on said support, and means, actuated by said leveling devices as they are moved into operative relation, for moving said clamping device to draw said counter portion onto the last in advance of the leveling operation, substantially as described.

4. In combination with a leveling device of a leveling machine, a last jack for supporting a. shoe in inverted position, an engaging device having a support for holding the same in engagement with the counter portion of a shoe held on a last supported by the jack, with a portion thereof in position to be engaged by said leveling device, and means permitting said engaging device to be pressed downwardly by said leveling device, while held in engagement with said counter portion to draw the latter onto the last in advance of the leveling operation, substantially as described.

5. In a leveling machine, a jack for supporting a last in inverted position, and a leveling device, a holder having means for pressing the same in engagement with the counter portion of a shoe held on the last, with a portion thereof projecting above the level of the sole in position to be engaged by said leveling device, and means permitting said holder to be depressed by said leveling device while held against said counter-portion, as the sole and leveling device are moved together to draw the counterportion onto the last in advance of the leveling-operation, substantially as described.

6. A leveling machine having in combination a jack for supporting a last in inverted position and a leveling roll disposed transversely with relation thereto, a holder adapted to engage opposite sides of the counter portion of a shoe held on the last and having the opposite portions thereof disposed to be engaged by the opposite end portions of the roll as the roll performs its leveling operation, substantially as described.

7. A. leveling machine having in combination a jack for supporting a last in inverted position and a leveling roll disposed transversely with relation thereto, a depressible holder adapted to engage opposite sides of the counter portion of a shoe held on the last, means for supporting said holder with the engaging portions thereof above the level of the sole of a shoe on the last to permit the same to be engaged by the roll and depressed thereby as the sole of the shoe and the roll are brought into operative relation, substantially as described.

8. A leveling machine having in combination a leveling roll and a universally movable jack for holding a last transversely thereof, a holder having side portions disposed to engage opposite sides of the counter portion of a shoe held on the last, said side portions having engaging faces at their upper edges disposed to be engaged by the opposite end portions of the roll to cause the jack to be held in predetermined relation to the roll, and means permitting said holder to yield to permit the leveling operation to be performed while engaged by said side portions, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWIN A. WEBSTER.

lVitnesses:

L. H. HARRIMAN, CYNTHIA DOYLE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

- Washington, D. G. 

